How Virtual Layoffs Became The New Normal For Workplaces

The rise of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic has now brought about the rise of the virtual layoff.
Last November, Meta laid off 11,000 workers, and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, delivered the news over a remote video call. In April, McDonald’s temporarily shut down its corporate offices and fired hundreds of employees virtually.
Meta declined to send a statement, but a company’s spokesperson noted that the company has multiple locations in the world and cannot do all layoffs in person.
The practice is leading to a public debate over layoff etiquette - whether giving employees the bad news is more dignified than locking them out of their email accounts overnight.
“McDonald’s is teaching a master class in layoffs,” Jessica Kriegel, chief scientist of workplace culture at Culture Partners, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in April. “If I were getting laid off, I’d want to be laid off at home, not at the office.”
McDonald’s declined to comment.
Critics of the remote layoff trend say it lacks empathy and only favors the employer.
“It’s lazy leadership,” said Nicholas Whitaker, former Google employee and chief well-being officer and coach for tech workers. “We’re talking about thousands of people’s lives that have been turned upside down. And it’s one of the most, you know, impactful moments in somebody’s career to be let go or to be laid off. It lacks humanity, an ethical and a moral component.”
Watch the video above to find out how virtual layoffs have become a new workplace norm.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:53 - How remote layoffs became the norm
01:53 - The Big Tech hiring Spree
05:26 - Remote termination etiquette
08:30 - What's next
Produced by: Anuz Thapa
Narration by: Jordan Smith
Supervising Producer: Jeff Morganteen
Graphics by: Jason Reginato, Alex Wood and Christina Locopo
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How Virtual Layoffs Became The New Normal For Workplaces

[@adrianmacaraeg5288]

This is a testament that no matter how good you are as a employee, your still seen as a expendable.

[@maxxpass]

No matter how good you are, there is always someone cheaper

[@rogergeyer9851]

Adrian: Yup. You can try to stay the hell away from the likely picks for the next round of layoffs by good performance -- but you can only control so much. And EVERY employee is expendable at some point in a for-profit business.

[@rogergeyer9851]

@@maxxpass: Of course cheaper might be much worse -- but when they're only pinching pennies for the short term, they refuse to consider that. Of course that has consequences, but that's months to years away, most likely....

[@maxxpass]

@@rogergeyer9851 totally agree

[@markux1983]

Couldn’t agree more. We are simply numbers at the end of the day. So much lack of humanity…

[@Jspath3]

All jobs are temporary, gone are the days of individual company loyalty.

[@JR-kx4lv]

Worker loyalty to companies doesn’t exist anymore either so it makes sense, two way street

[@jayus2033]

Actually my McDonald's job gives me bonus ketchup packets for good behavior

[@mukkaar]

This is why you need unions.

[@02nupe]

@@JR-kx4lv companies started it first, so of course it makes sense ppl do the same....

[@MooseBme]

When was that slavery?

[@Randomcharacters_]

When a CEO says they take full responsibility and lay people off, but at the same time keep their bonuses is BS.

[@daniel25083]

Yup them taking responsibility for losses is using their bonus to fund those positions but nah they’ll just take the 200 mil

[@JavierRamirez-ks9ji]

As he should. If he’s making the the overall business more efficient and profitable than he should be compensated for being able to make those decisions. If your not happy with it find another job or start your own business and run it the way you’d like too :)

[@annat6249]

@@JavierRamirez-ks9ji I agree with you. I am also the bottom of the food chain. I am just a normal worker. I never want to be a lead or a manager because I don’t want the pressure nor great expectations from being a boss. I want a balance work life. So I agree those who work hard should be compensated for their stress and creativity. Most people are just jealous of CEO salary. It is America, you work hard, enjoy that compensation. If people want to get better pay, try harder and get promoted.

[@JavierRamirez-ks9ji]

@@annat6249 your correct because a CEO gets paid for making hard decisions. If he fails they get heavily criticized. I’ve been an employee and currently a business owner. What I can say is being an employee I had a very balanced life compared to now

[@XOPOIIIO]

CEOs can be layed off just like any other employee.

[@CJ-fh5xq]

That's why company loyalty does not matter. Watch out for yourself only.

[@jihwankim4452]

Lmaoooo today generation doesnt have loyalty anyway. Bunch of them just move the company bc other one offered higher paycheck??? It is not one way street. It is two way street. What comes around, goes around

[@macobuzi]

"Be loyal to your craft, not your job"

[@hellosammy4105]

Of course it matters. Those that don’t have loyalty were probably kicked out long before this unavoidable layoff 🤣.

[@macobuzi]

@@hellosammy4105 Those who don't have loyalty will quit themself long before that for a better company, and those who are loyal will be kicked out of the company, eventually. The only difference is unloyal ones will have a better chance of finding a job after the layoff since they already have plenty of interviewing experience. While loyal people will struggle hard for not having an interview for the last 10+ years.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

I've learned to treat my full-time job as a series of daily gigs.

[@luiscuba9188]

Should it be that way though?🧐

[@sigfigronath]

@@RAM-kt9pm what do you do ?

[@luiscuba9188]

@@RAM-kt9pm i used to do what you did, its not sustainable for everyone in the longterm majority of the jobs that allow that are either lower paying, or you have to be stepping on people and i dont particularly enjoy that, so thats why i left it, im more comfortable now not always in a distrust panic state as i used to be.

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

@Owen G Another thing I learned is how fragile our ability to work is. I'm a professor and this past week I suffered a mouth sore and several mosquito bites. Nothing life threatening, but it seriously made work that much more uncomfortable.

[@richardwilliams7415]

Companies hire you to solve problems. When you become a problem they let you go.

[@ninabeena83]

The idea of a virtual termination while they’re simultaneously forcing people to end virtual work situations is INSANE

[@adesuwa9112]

Right! I wish they had expanded on the hypocrisy of more companies wanting workers to come into the office more frequently- ending remote working options, while choosing to lay-off/ terminate employees virtually. It doesn’t make sense! It’s ridiculous

[@ExquisiteKinkyCoils]

All of this💯👏🏾👏🏾! It's quite vindictive. Businesses need to give back their Pandemic Loans as well.

[@LiveMedia123]

What is also insane to me that America doesn't have good laws that protect workers. Where I come from it's pretty much against the law to just let someone go.

[@akabaneg8602]

omg so true

[@sthuyen]

How about the opposite, people fight to work remotely, they should get terminated virtually.

[@jvc4331]

Better than what my workplace did to 50+ people one Wednesday, they let them enter parking but once they got to the main door their badge didn't work and security told them they had been let go. Humiliating

[@foster4241]

wow such disrespect

[@livingthedream444]

That’s horrible 😢

[@tracyaskew1651]

That happened at my company 15 years ago. We were so confused. Security came down and let a group up to the reception area, where our stuff was just waiting for us in boxes. WOW. One of the older employees (a 70-year-old Part-timer. She was the sweetest lady who just wanted to feel needed) committed suicide a week later. 3 months later, they had the nerve to try and hire some of us back.

[@orangeSoda35]

@@tracyaskew1651 omg...

[@natnat8393]

​@Tracy Askew I am so sorry :( that poor lady

[@Retired_hag]

I worked for a company that was notoriously known for virtually laying off people. It deteriorated morale and made it seem we were just a number. So… I acted just like a number and did the bare minimum. Sure enough, I was laid off along with top performers. I felt happy knowing it was coming and acted selfishly by putting myself first and not a horrible company.

[@richard09able]

Ahem: the term in Asia is called laying flat.

[@royaldiadem_]

lol

[@jonathanandrew2909]

With an attitude like that no wonder they let you go.

[@blueprint7]

whatever let's you sleep at night

[@newsarticlereviewskid6630]

what city or state?

[@that1guy74]

The fact that most companies expect 2+ weeks of notice before you quit is incredible. Why would I give you a warning when I can wake up one day expecting to get to work and be terminated?

[@melonyogloo]

But most companies give employees severance pkg, right?

[@kekef3620]

@@melonyogloo nope! That's usually the very high earning jobs. Most companies will pay you out your remaining PTO. And that's if you're lucky. Most companies leave you with nothing.

[@yknx4]

They fired me effective immediately, but was given 4 months severance. But thanks to Canadian work culture, I won't be surprised if in the US they would give you a thanks and a kick in the ass

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

@@kekef3620 You were talking about America only. The land of the free.

[@salmankhan-qu5ty]

Habibi , come to India . 3 month's notice period before quitting !

[@bhanusM99]

Compared to suddenly getting locked out and getting a mail saying you're laid off, a CEO apologizing personally through a zoom call is so much better.

[@jayus2033]

He should come face to face with the person and comfort inside of eachother

[@PatrickGotHands]

Your not that special your just a rat like everyone else in a rat race

[@stevechance150]

We live in time where there is ZERO loyalty to the employees. And a smart employee should have no loyalty to their corporate employer what so ever. The best way to improve your compensation is to jump ship every 3 years. And always prioritize gaining skills that benefit you over gaining skills that benefit your current employer. If it's a choice between what benefits you and what benefits your corporate employer, always do what benefits you, keeping in mind that your CEO is doing the same.

[@Kaiyats]

@@jayus2033 that’s a lot of people to meet

[@bdh711]

The lesser of two evils

[@NotShowingOff]

Everyone here is missing the elephant in the room. It’s not about remote work. It’s not about virtual layoffs. It’s really about at-will employment. At-will employment allows companies to fire you for any reason. What it also does is it allows them leverage to take away all other benefits, mainly because healthcare and other benefits are ties to employment.

[@NicholasWhitaker]

this is really the big takeaway for me. Know what the situation is that you've agreed to, and prepare accordingly.

[@jaysant6958]

Thank you for snapping me back to reality.

[@valiantvigilante]

@IPFreeley Exactly. So many non-partisan issues like worker's rights should be a rallying cry for ALL Americans. "At will" employment treats employment as a totally even playing field by nature when everyone via common sense knows that's utterly outrageously wrong. The business ALWAYS has more leverage in every respect. PERIOD. Therefore, the worker should always have more leverage when it comes to employer-worker relationship issues. A basic federal form should be completed upon offer of employment that guarentees, at a minimum...3 weeks notice of employment termination, from both the employer AND the employee, a defined salary and benefits, at least 14 days of paid time off a year (not including weekends, holidays, etc). That should be the MINIMUM rights afforded to the employee of ANY job.

[@jamescrutchfield9237]

Unionize 💪🏽

[@hellosammy4105]

Hey, you the people wanted at-will employment. You the people wanted to be able to leave your current job at any time with minimal notice to be able to pursue other opportunities or leave undesirable employment as you see fit. You the people called not letting you leave, ‘Slavery.’ So you get ‘at-will’ resignations, they get at-will firings. Fair is fair. Don’t cry just because you don’t like the other side of the perks you currently enjoy.

[@rickthomas422]

That one scene in back to the future, where Marty is fired by his boss by video conference, fax and text, while looking at a flat-screen TV that didn't exist for another decade, had to have been written by a time traveler.

[@ellvtv2314]

How prescient was that film. Marty relegated to working at a Japanese company with a culture known to abuse its employees shows how far he's fallen in life.

[@rogergeyer9851]

Rick: Some things were obvious good guesses, re the future, some not so much. We're still not eating rehydrated pizzas, from what I've seen, for example.

[@Rocanala]

Never question why most people are not loyal to their employer

[@hellosammy4105]

What are you talking about? Anyone knows you can always quit when you have a better offer elsewhere. It’s a free market. It’s basically common sense at this point.

[@hellosammy4105]

But why u not loyal tho?

[@alexsteven.m6414]

Inflation is far more harmful to individuals than a collapsing stock or property market because it directly affects people's cost of living, which they immediately feel. It is not surprising that the current market sentiment is extremely pessimistic. In today's economy, assistance is critical if we are to survive.

[@bernisejedeon5888]

In this moment, when you can use a capable portfolio advisor to passively learn about and experience a fully varied market, it has never been easier to understand how to increase your money. The implications of a rising or declining dollar on assets, in my opinion, are difficult.

[@valeriepierre9778]

@@yolanderiche7476 Where may one locate an experienced FA? I like the notion of employing their services, but it's terrible that recent stock market tragedies have started to happen more frequently.

[@yolanderiche7476]

@@valeriepierre9778 JEFFREY HAROLD STARR, who I learned about and got in touch with thanks to a CNBC interview. Since then, it has served as the point of entry and departure for the games we have emphasized. A search on the internet can be done if tracking is necessary!..

[@Deathwatch31]

@@yolanderiche7476 JEFFREY banged my wife, I became my wife's boyfriend because of him. He's a true alpha male, thanks JEFFREY

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

And people are wondering why young people are not having kids....DUH.

[@TheBudgetingWife]

My husband was in a mass layoff like this in tech in the fall. 2 weeks after coming back from parental leave. Our insurance benefits were expiring as our baby was in the hospital with RSV. It was awful. Grateful he found a new job (outside of tech) within 6 weeks. But the whole situation was terrible. Now any last minute “all company” zoom meeting is triggering. 😵‍💫

[@krisb-travel]

stressful times for all :( i think we're much worse off than our previous generations.

[@Lost1nTranslation]

Yea, corporations don't give a crap about us. I was laid off at the start of the pandemic. Was nearly homeless.

[@genxx2724]

I would have consulted an attorney about a discrimination claim.

[@tech-bore8839]

"They don't need to hire a contractor for layoffs" Funny how employers are trying to cut costs, yet are willing to hire an outside company to do the firings for them. That's a special level of stupid.

[@ShamileII]

If you hire an employee to do the firing, he costs the company medical, insurance and the company portion of the med/ss tax. A company hired to do the same job is a 100% business deduction. We use contractors for everything.

[@SaintsandSushi]

What’s stupid about temporary hiring of outside contractors when that means the company doesn’t have to spend money on health benefits, retirement benefits and other benefits that an employee would get. Plus contractors are a tax write off for the company where the employees aren’t.

[@abyszero8620]

There's a whole movie about it called Up In The Air.

[@hellosammy4105]

Lol, maybe for you. But they wouldn’t have done it if it wouldn’t profit them in some way. That’s why they do the hiring and firing and you’re at the other end of the barrel.

[@maxgandor3109]

I just got laid off about 4 weeks ago from a fairly large tech company but they did not lock me out from my work station immediately. I received an email from my work computer about a meeting and an HR representative and my Supervisor was on that meeting. They were empathetic and very helpful. It did sting that i no longer have work that day but didn’t feel humiliated . They offered compensation and severance as well as other helpful resources afterwards which I was grateful for. I really liked doing that job and i did see a future at the company but at least they did not blindside me a threw me off right away and had a 1 on 1 talk.

[@newsarticlereviewskid6630]

what city or state?

[@maxgandor3109]

@@newsarticlereviewskid6630 New York city

[@CrossfitWarrior]

The same thing happened to me at the time I was working for a stock broker and that's still considered a start up. It made me feel like I did something bad but just drew the short straw that's all.

[@gryffbirb]

Good on them! I hope where you are now is also a good place.

[@erroltheotaku]

My company told us 3 months in advance that we were going to be let go, which sucked but I realize now that I could have just been surprised one day, so I'm fortunate my company gave me the chance to prepare.

[@washuotaku]

Hard to invest in a company when the company does not want to invest in you.

[@jihwankim4452]

And when company invested in you so much. They left to competitor street across bc they offer higher paycheck.... Lol wat comes around goes around

[@JavierRamirez-ks9ji]

@@jihwankim4452 100% true people don’t know that training a new hire can cost the business thousands for them to learn then leave 1 month later for a bigger paycheck after all the resources invested… easier said then done. Business owners take the high risk to create the job nothings guaranteed. Capitalism is great.

[@abyszero8620]

​@@JavierRamirez-ks9jiYour argument doesn't hold water. They are never transparent about how much training costs, and will never raise salaries after the employees have paid back the deficit with their higher productivity later.

[@eckankar7756]

You invest in you. Never expect your employer to be your mother. Always do your best because that's who you are. It's easier to get that next advancement with an attitude of personal integrity rather than constantly trying to dodge responsibility. They can pick up on that quality quickly.

[@hellosammy4105]

What you mean like buying company stock? Oh, you mean actually doing your job? That’s not investment on your part, that’s your job.

[@AmrXcellent]

of course being let go sucks. And it doesn't make it any better if it is in person or via email... the fact remains that you are being let go. If you agree to remote work, remote interviews, ... then remote firing is in that same bucket. Never treat a workplace more than what it is, it is an arrangement. Your boss is not your friend. The company is not your family. Always have a backup plan and always keep building/investing in yourself and keep your options open.

[@Apexlegends91]

100% true.

[@JakoWako]

If an employee randomly quit without providing two weeks notice then the employer would say they were being unprofessional and are “burning bridges.” It’s fine when the employer does this though?

[@JoeSmoeisnotmyrealname]

​@@JakoWako I imagine the people let go were useless so they save $ letting them go asap. You wouldn't do the same if you were the boss getting fat bonuses?

[@Apexlegends91]

@@JakoWako its not fine its just business. if the employee left without a 2 weeks notice he/she knows he doesn’t want to come back so if the employer lets you go without a notice they doesn’t want you back or plan to anyways. it sucks but some businesses doesn’t have the budget to keep you longer than they need to just to give you a notice.

[@SaintsandSushi]

@@JakoWakoI have given resignation notice in jobs with less than two weeks notice. But guess what…the last company I did that did refused to accept my resignation and instead made me a remote worker even though I moved out of the state. I literally have old employers giving me interviews for different and better positions. My skill set and what I can contribute to the company is what makes my old and new employers hire me. All that to say that giving less than two weeks notice is not burning bridges. You literally have to verbally or physically abuse someone in the company to burn bridges.

[@nhcsuck42]

What goes around comes around. I hope these companies/executives get the outcomes they deserve for treating people this way

[@rogergeyer9851]

Anana: They do to some extent, eventually, with less motivated workforces, less loyal workforces, etc. But often idiot management can't see that if they save a few bucks in the short term. So it goes.

[@natnat8393]

While that is a comforting thought, the likelihood of that ever happening is nil. Many will get away with it and live happy fulfilling lives

[@mikezerker6925]

It’s just business…

[@useridcn]

Maybe the reality allows them to do so = those who got fired really mean nothing to them.

[@MikeBNumba6]

@@Destin5258 pretty much. They leave on a golden parachute

[@portalomus]

I forget that not everyone grew up in a rustbelt town where layoffs were the norm in the 80s and 90s. It taught me to NEVER trust the big companies in town. Watching everyone lose their pensions and the company stock plummet taught me that no company is a guarantee and "safe." The tech layoffs remind me of this, except it's not as bad as it was then.

[@jeangenie3240]

The people from those times are obnoxiously paranoid and they mob people out of the job in fear of another lay off.

[@CarlosMendez003]

This is certainly a new phenomon but should we really be surprised? As a Gen X I've been working in the corporate world since the late 90s. Corporations don't care about their workers... In my 25 years I've seen it all. EVERYONE IS EXPENDABLE!!

[@ropro9817]

I'm also a gen-X-er and have seen the same. Learned the hard way through a few bust cycles that there truly is no such thing as loyalty from a company regardless of how loyal you are to it. LESSON LEARNED.

[@SuperGGnoRE]

Gen X grew up on Pink Floyd right? Makes sense then. People these days ought to have a listen, the lessons are all there.

[@NicholasWhitaker]

@@SuperGGnoRE Time has new meaning for me at this age.

[@sandpast]

Facts!!! I've unfortunately seen it all to

[@hellosammy4105]

I Honestly prefer it that way. What?Do you really care about your bosses? Do you go out of your way to invite your boss to all your family events and befriend them? Do you care what happens in your bosses’s life? No? Then why do you expect them to care about you beyond paying you for the work that you do? Sheesh. You’d think that a gen X’er would be less self-centered.

[@keltwondaglobal7250]

Some of these companies literally treat human beings who happens to be employees like inventories. “Oh we out of stock, or this one is not needed” get rid of it . Smh 🤦‍♂️

[@5-1biggiebagextrafries]

No truer words have been spoken: Always invest in yourself-make yourself a competitive applicant-never stagnate yourself for an employer

[@distortdude80]

Rule number one: Don't get too attached to your job. Your employer won't reciprocate the same loyalty you give. They are not a family.

[@davidsamuelson2089]

How many of these awful CEO’s took a pay cut? How many still get horribly high bonuses while laying off everyone else? How many were axed without a golden parachute? Sickening.

[@SwiftySanders]

They over-hired and then rather than take the pay cut themselves because they screwed up, they made employees pay for their mistakes.There needs to be a mandatory $20k severance in the case of a virtual layoff.

[@richardwilliams7415]

Stocker holders are the real villains that nobody ever mentions. Everything CEO's do it to please investors.

[@odinfatherofthor]

There is no reason for a CEO to take a pay cut. When their own job is not permanent.

[@enzom09]

​@Christopher Sanders 20k is probably lower than many employees at Google/MS are getting. I know many people who received anywhere from 3-6months of severance pay. For someone earning 100k, which would be on the lower end for these companies, that's 25-50k. I agree that severance pay, in general, starting at 4 months should be the minimum. This would allow employees to find a new job and not be surprised that they can't afford their bills.

[@johntran1352]

​@@SwiftySanders They take a pay cut to keep those employees for what? to fiddle their thumbs?

[@jia7302]

There should be a two weeks notice for lay offs

[@avarice5071]

Idk about that because there are people who'd abuse that and act differently. When I gave my boss two weeks notice he was worried I would act crazy on the jobs afterwards(I didn't) and he gave me a exiting bonus for it. Not everyone's like me tho.

[@moltenink9137]

In Ontario there is. The law is that they either give you notice or pay in lieu of notice plus you get 1 week severence for every year you have worked at the company. I know this cause I'm getting laid off in 2 weeks.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

I think if they are not going to give 2 weeks employees across America when they leave a job at one of these companies should just quit and not even give them notice. See how they like it.

[@kevinj9270]

@@avarice5071 That's why there is gardening leave.

[@antiapatic]

Last piece of advice is spot on! Companies don't give a sh*t about you

[@Combat_Medic]

The only time I’ve been fired they did it right in the middle of my shift for everyone to see. It was so humiliating. I would much rather be fired virtually.

[@shrugrug7172]

Getting laid off by getting locked out of your accounts is way better than commuting an hour and a half to work just to find out you are laid off and then have to drive back home.

[@indraneel5123]

Sleep with the hrs daughter. Baam revenge

[@sinebar]

Yep that's how I found out in 2021 soon after lockdown was lifted. Went to login and couldn't. For me though I was actually at work. Strangely my employee badge let me in and I went to my office as usual. Tried to login on my computer and it wouldn't let me. I didn't think anything of it and called IT as I had before with computer issues. The IT guy came down and tried to reset my login credentials but he couldn't either. He thought it was network issues and told me to try again later. So I went about my day thinking I still had a job but all the while I was no longer an employee. I told my boss, who was the engineering manager, that I couldn't login to my CAD station and that I had already contacted IT. He asked me what did IT say and I told him. He said: "Probably just a network issue". I went to lunch and came back and now my badge wouldn't work. That's when it started to dawn on me. I called my supervisor, he called HR and they confirmed that I had been let go. After that I enrolled in medical school where I am currently. Probably what I should have done instead of engineering school.

[@Sunset553]

That’s how my last day at work was at a company. I spent my day troubleshooting my termination

[@robertlunderwood]

They didn't tell your boss that you were let go? That was rude.

[@genxx2724]

Sounds like the Twilight Zone. I’m sorry they did that to you. I hope you’re doing great.

[@Sim9]

Anyone who has seen how callously google treats their users should not be surprised how callously they fire their employees.

[@jonathanandrew2909]

You mean free food, massages, and onsite gym?

[@BoHror933]

@@jonathanandrew2909nah spying their customers behind their backs

[@CatEyedGoddess]

This is REAL. My company did massive virtual layoffs. All the ppl they laid off were remote workers. I went back into the office 2 years ago because WFH wasn’t my cup a tea. I think that move saved my ass.

[@paulbaker2615]

On-site saved you? Not me. I switched to M-F onsite starting in 2022. Also, I was on carer's leave when I got the termination. So regardless of where you work, the new norm is still virtual layoffs.

[@CatEyedGoddess]

@@paulbaker2615 I hear you. I was only speaking about my company because they only laid off remote workers. But I do get laid offs effects people across a wide spectrum. If you haven’t already, I hope you find a better job soon.

[@jalabi99]

Being on-site will not save your ass. It's only putting off the fatal day. They show you no loyalty, so you should return the favor. Looking out for #1 is your top priority.

[@legendarynoobz]

@@jalabi99 lol with that kind of mind set you are gonna get laid off a lot 😂

[@jalabi99]

@@legendarynoobz this is 2023 - any employer who insists on seeing butts in seats to assuage their own micromanaging egos is a non-starter. It's not that people don't want to work these days, it's that people want to be treated like trustworthy adults. I don't need to be physically located in an office in order to do my work (if that work is stuff that doesn't require your physical presence in order to do it, like almost every software/IT job does these days). Give me a clear set of objectives, give me a timeframe in which to achieve them, and let me get to work. My boss doesn't need to be looking over my shoulder or micromanaging me. So no, with this mindset, I'm not going to be laid off a lot - I'm not going to try to get hired by any such backwards-minded employer in the first place 😂

[@jonathanbegay92]

As a construction worker, I usually only stay on jobs for 3-4 months. If it’s a good job, 6 months. The longest time I’ve ever been employed have all been

[@BoHror933]

bruh you actually produce something. These tech morons do nothing their whole lives.

[@ezioaltairac]

If you want to interview and hire someone in person, you can afford to fire them in person.

[@avarice5071]

Nah, they interview you online now as well. Majority of interviews I've done has been over zoom. I rather get fired through an email or zoom

[@felixthecat2786]

It does not have to be in person, it just needs to be respectful. Zoom is more respectful than an abrupt email the morning you're supposed to work.

[@rogergeyer9851]

All they care about is maximizing profits. I never met or even talked to my final manger. He was too busy and was in another location. I did briefly talk to him after sending my letter of resignation via email.

[@sthuyen]

Then go to work in person

[@Phelps1111]

Please don't waste my time by calling me into the office just to fire me/downsize.

[@chrisaycock5965]

This was me at my last company except I was just working and they had a quick zoom and just poof everything got locked out.

[@teachatot]

My husband got laid off today by email after working in the company for 17years.Very sad ,didnt expect it coming.

[@SaintsandSushi]

This happened to one of my good friends. She got layed of after 17yrs at her tech company. She was a project manager and her job experience didn’t change the outcome. Thankfully after many months she got a job this week in a smaller company in town.

[@cherylT321]

@@SaintsandSushiMy friend’s daughter is in her 50’s; she has a high position in her company but I’ve noticed that she’s taken a lot of vacations recently. I said to my friend that she needs to be careful; she’s at that age where corporate starts to think you’re too old and she doesn’t seem to be on the job as much as she used to. She also lives way above her means so if she does get thrown out suddenly, she’ll be in a sorry state because people rarely find another job that pays at the level they were earning!

[@BoHror933]

soon to be ex husband amirite?

[@avres13]

I worked at plenty of places that Would just shutoff their IDs and work accounts. No emails or calls to clarify anything. This was all before Covid and I think it was to prevent a disgruntled employee from entering the building.

[@Iquey]

Yeah call centers are like that.

[@jalabi99]

The way I see it, if you're so afraid that your employee would physically retaliate against you because you laid them off, then you're bossing wrong 🙃

[@BoHror933]

@@jalabi99like they care…

[@christinewatson1989]

Companies don't see you as a human being and they never have. The impersonal virtual layoffs are MORE respectful in the sense that they're not pretending they care about you.

[@GratitudeDay]

This is how contractors are laid off. No care or consideration. With such a large percentage of the country working as contractors for these corporate monsters, it’s happening to a lot of us.

[@JakoWako]

Well yeah, that’s how being a contractor works. They temporarily work for a company and don’t receive regular hours.

[@GratitudeDay]

@@JakoWako thanks for that incredibly elucidating comment. Very empathetic and helpful. 🙄

[@AngelicaAngel888_]

​@Jack Bonardi not completely true. It depends on the company you're with and the kind of contractor you are. I worked as a contractor for years with a Mon-Fri 9-5 schedule. It's very common.

[@GratitudeDay]

@@AngelicaAngel888_ yes, my hours have always been regular as well. Contractors, in my experience, are just not treated as team members and are incredibly expendable.

[@JakoWako]

@@GratitudeDay Your comment didn’t seem empathetic to me while mine had your best intentions

[@ravipatel1301]

I was one who was impacted by layoffs and it's been 5 months and no luck. It is really really very frustrating and depressing but I believe that getting an opportunity that lasts longer rather than a volatile job is something that I want now. NO FAANG.

[@mylifeisinhishandsamen4167]

Do you have a job now?

[@chigal0926]

That former Google employee was incredibly naive. Google is a job, not some holy grail. I was underemployed due to being laid off from my job before COVID. In fact, I was laid off two months after my father died. As Dad was dying the company was going through serious layoff; the CEO was let go. I brushed off my resume to get ready. But I became focused on my dying father. Don’t be like that former Google employee. I see myself as an independent contractor, learning new skills and preparing for anything.

[@sircharlesmormont9300]

Companies: "Why is no one loyal anymore?" Also companies: "Surprise layoff time! No personal conversation needed."

[@b12s901]

Tell me about it. My team survived 4 rounds of layoffs and was told the week before we were let go “look around, if your team is still here that means you are crucial to our operation and can’t be replaced.” A week later I woke up to a layoff notice in my personal email, locked out of everything, and was told they werent giving us a severance package.

[@jalabi99]

Not giving you a severance package after not being two week's notice is illegal, I think. You should check with a labour attorney.

[@taurahelms3068]

Yea, they lie 😞

[@hellosammy4105]

Hahahahaha

[@CamJames]

I was told I wasn't expendable after a round of layoffs, then got fired the next Friday. I don't trust anyone and never will. Business is business.

[@kyulee2758]

Tech workers are spoiled too much. Crazy high pays, free lunches, free massages. Now the companies are realizing that.

[@gio3061]

Whoever made the animation at the start is a legend, alongside the person who decided the shot after the animation should be a shot which fades to the actual person. I LOL'd.

[@andrewcause25]

Don’t need an in person conversation. Just do a phone or Zoom call with each effected individual and let them know.

[@dehoyosrudolph8885]

Live by the computer, die by the computer.

[@royaldiadem_]

Lol

[@JamesJohnson-sl3ui]

The guy at the end gave great advice. If you think for a moment that any company cares about you or your family You are mistaken. You are a means to an end. And that is how you should think about your employer as well. Your job does not define you.

[@homoshmexual]

100% agree with his advice at the end. Companies do not care about us so you cannot either. It is an exchange of labor for money and nothing more. If companies want us to be loyal employees they have to be loyal to us. Don’t accept fealty as the norm.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

Almost sounds like prostitution. The oldest profession!

[@williamkann1044]

Giving fealty to your company is like when Ned Stark swore fealty to King Joffrey and lost his head anyway

[@trekuhl3966]

There is no easy way to deliver this message, it’s horrible no matter the format. I was laid off from a position on 01 April 2010, April Fools Day and it was no joke. I should have shown up the next day and said, “you were serious!” One aspect that cushioned the blow came from the CFO, I was given a 4 month severance package and the VP who delivered the message wanted me to take my severance over time. The CFO told me to take it lump sum that day, as he stated given the companies financial difficulties he stated he would not be able to pay the severance over time. I followed his advice, took the lump sum that day and ran away.

[@write2pras84]

For us, a layoff feels inhumane. I can’t imagine how laborers and child workers across the world must feel when their whole employment and even their whole lives are inhumane. Exposes our whole value system.

[@thatwierdkiduknow]

The feeling is anger. I nearly died 3 or 4 times doing this stupid job for half of what the work is worth. Then they tell me that they don't have enough money to keep me employed? Meanwhile, the owner is flying his private plane. I wanna smash windows and fight the manager in the parking lot.

[@dominiquesams1757]

This is funny. I’ve been said stop being loyal to companies because they aren’t loyal to you. Even when giving a two-week notice. Do what is in your best interest…

[@abyszero8620]

Before giving notice, be ready to be locked immediately. Exchange contact info with any friends you want to keep.

[@therealsimdan]

What she described as the "ideal" - McDonald's way of handling corporate layoffs, was actually horrible. Announcing layoffs and then not executing on them for months kills morale. Very few are going to work well with the sword of Damocles hanging over their head.

[@rockjunkie1699]

honestly i ffeel like i would just start looking for another job, assuming that I was going to get laid off

[@michellebowers8652]

Totally agree. A miserable experience for everyone.

[@rogergeyer9851]

therealsimdan: For many companies with a strategy of downsizing, that's the norm, not just for months but for DECADES. IBM was that way. They'd lay off a percentage of acceptable performers as a matter of COURSE, for example. Overall morale, of course, was horrible. It was ridiculous. This was way back in the 1990's and 2000's. It has only gotten worse since then, re people I know still there.

[@MrRossman2]

I actually disagree. I would rather know it was coming well in advance so I can start looking for another job. I'm guessing that was the intention. Much better than getting notice that your income was getting cut off in two weeks.

[@enzom09]

No way, this is the way to do it. I think most employees would rather know several months in advance and have time to plan for it and look for another job, while still earning a paycheck. Its much worse to find yourself suddenly unemployed and collecting an unemployment check that's 1/2 your current pay.

[@brewcider]

at my previous job they had a guy go around the office on friday afternoons with empty boxes and drop them on people's desks who are getting terminated. everyone was stressed out and scared when they saw him on friday afternoons worried he would be we coming to their cube next.

[@AEARArg]

Virtual lay-offs is an inexorable consequence of remote work. Don't exaggerate.

[@luiscuba9188]

They also happen to inperson you get an email and thas it

[@nbrockification]

It is not inexorable. It is definitely possible to stop and prevent. You are the one exaggerating.

[@TheRockerX]

They're also happening to lots of non-remote workers

[@akj3344]

@@nbrockification why would a company prevent layoffs? Remote workers who are not crucial are a liability to the company.v

[@dunny2210]

JPMorgan Chase just laid off First Republic Bank's employees after the takeover. First Republic Bank was a great bank but got caught into the Signature and Silicon Valley collapse fears and panic of customers. I hope similar bank like First Republic will emerge in the future- it treated their customers and employees with dignities and respects.

[@_winston_smith_]

Having survived many layoffs over the years, my perspective is that sharp and quick is better. The rumor mill starts up right away putting everyone under stress for weeks. Imagine contacting 11,000 individuals for a sit down meeting with their manager and trying to keep it under wraps. Having the CEO announce the layoff and then allowing follow up in person meetings for those that want them seems better to me.

[@littlesongbird1]

Yeah. I was with Allstate when they had layoffs in 2020. It was a nightmare: we first found out about them during a virtual townhall in June where the CEO was drunk and not wearing any pants and let it slip by accident. Then they made us take assessment that september as part of the protocol for determining layoffs. Then we didn't know who was going till I want to say mid October and those that were let go were given 30 day notice. I was not one of the ones laid off but what happened after was such a nightmare because people didn't want to wait to see if they were on the chopping block so people quit that weren't planning to let go so they had a problem with too few employees.

[@g.Raider]

@@littlesongbird1 Imagine quitting your job just to spare yourself the agony of waiting to see if you'll be laid off. That is horrible.

[@sailorstarfairy1]

🙄 "but when you, the employee, wants to leave, we, the employer, want a two weeks notice otherwise we will tell your future employer you didn't give notice."

[@Silverhineko]

Even better is when they want a 4 week notice. It would be nice if the law made these things symmetrical - you want a few weeks heads up? So do we. ESPECIALLY since our health care is tied to employment. Ugh

[@duffygraham]

We're a family until the relationship becomes inconvenient for the company.

[@echongkan01]

I was fired from Accenture after only 3 months in 2020, and the experience left me wondering for a whole year what I had done wrong.

[@Matt-YT]

Nothing

[@lazyhomeowner]

nada. they wanted free or low cost work during your probationary. rinse and repeat.

[@Matt-YT]

Accenture is the McDonald's of consulting

[@hellosammy4105]

I’m going to venture a guess and say that it’s because you don’t have an accent.

[@Scott_T_]

What exactly does the statement "I take full responsibility" really mean? Zukerberg didn't get fired, he didn't lose any stock options, he didn't get sanctioned at all.

[@JakoWako]

Responsibility in the sense he owns up to his decision and isn’t blaming anyone else. Typically you try to make amends with the people you’ve wronged, but I guess that’s what unemployment insurance is for!

[@Scott_T_]

@@JakoWako if he owns up to his decision then he should be fired just like anyone else who makes poor business decisions.

[@JakoWako]

@@Scott_T_ He really should since the whole Meta transition was his idea and lead by him. The Board of Directors didn’t see it that way.

[@joeltnt908]

It's incredible that we're still expected to give two week notice when we leave a job, but they can fire at us with an e-mail.

[@hellosammy4105]

Uh… no. You can quit any job any time. Giving notice is just etiquette. There is no law against walking off the job on a whim. The company can’t actually do anything. Try it.

[@joeltnt908]

@@hellosammy4105 when did I ever say that it was a law? I said it's incredible that we are "expected" I never insinuated that it was obligated.

[@hellosammy4105]

@@joeltnt908 Sorry, that whiny tone of yours conveyed a sense of helpless impotence and self pity that is often associated with fools who love victimhood. In any case, you knowing that it is not the law just undermined your own argument. What’s incredible about expecting you to give 2 weeks notice and firing you with an email when you can give no notice and no email and walk off the job? Victimhood declined!

[@mercedeswilkins5566]

I never give notices

[@TechFollower]

Everything is about money nowadays...as nobody cares about anything anymore ...and that's reality of people nowadays

[@abhi4u20]

Reason i never take work seriously and my finances seriously 😂😂😂. I really don't care about the company or product or whatever they sell. I only check may salary, do what I've assigned and little thought so i look thoughtful.

[@josephmartin6219]

The last speaker said it all: "Invest in yourself cos at the end of the day its only you you can rely on" Word!

[@williamsullivan3337]

I have friends who work remotely who I asked about this very issue with the added input from me that it’s far easier to layoff someone who you don’t see than the coworker who is working next you. There is a loss of network or banging heads that I think will be a greater loss than anything gained from remote work.

[@i_marcus_quintus]

If you can't look at someone in the eye and tell them they don't have a job anymore, you shouldn't have the right to fire them in the first place.

[@mememan9890]

So how should someone get fired?

[@liamloveridge9358]

@@mememan9890 he literally said how. You need someone with the leadership skills to have these difficult conversations tactfully and to treat the workers with dignity. For the money that people in leadership positions get payed it should be expected that they do more than the bare minimum of an email or a mass zoom call.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

It’s more efficient to launch peeps over email tho 😂

[@chumpthetraitor7331]

"right to fire"? Do you realize how dumb you sound?

[@Sunlest]

@@sfrealestatedealmaker6001 Require workers to be accommodating and professional, but companies will toss employees around without a thought. Worker rights and dignity are gone in the US.

[@pix_elpimp2772]

It may be beneficial for workers in the tech industry, particularly those employed by large tech companies, to consider #unionizing. Despite the promise of vested stock and other perks, these may not be sufficient compensation for the demands of the job. Additionally, it may be more effective to simply quit rather than provide a traditional two-week notice.

[@hongwu6463]

Yes most employments nowadays are “at will”. You can quit any time and they can fire you any time. No need for that 2-week transition bs.

[@robertlunderwood]

Tech workers can't do that. We'll be replaced by H1Bs.

[@Jillousa]

I remember the day I got laid off. I received a chat to come for a meeting and then they met with me in person to explain that there were layoffs. I was then offered counseling as an option since they had a counselor standing by and then escorted out. One of my severance package benefits was a 2-day training at a different company on how to look for a job which was so helpful and some severance pay. I really appreciated the first day of that training where the first thing the trainer had us do was share about our struggles with losing our job. They advised that we need to deal with a grief of losing our job so that it doesn't hinder us from moving forward. When others shared how they felt I realized I wasn't alone! Some of my feelings I thought like losing this job felt like losing a loved one and I thought to myself that was crazy but when others shared the same feelings that really helped me so much. That was also helpful.

[@ClassWarVeteran]

Working class solidarity across all job sectors and income levels.

[@rogergeyer9851]

If one wants to work virtually, then virtual communications are going to be part of the job. And layoffs are one form of corporate communication. When I quit my job (early retirement decision) at IBM in 2007 (tired of management, etc), I'd never seen nor spoken to my manager, who worked in another state and hadn't bothered to communicate with any of us in weeks. So how is that any better? Virtual work opportunities are a great blessing / alternative. Crying about the occasional trade-off in unconvincing. During years of IBM downsizing, I was called by various remote managers over the results of downsizing X, and I never knew for sure if I would be layed off or not. Jobs aren't guaranteed. Life goes on. That has nothing to do with virtual work.

[@ChangingHorizons]

The google employee is saying ... ' i used the gym, i used the bike, i used the massage ... '; i think he should include 'i did not work' in parenthesis. If you are using your perks and not working; the company will find a way to offload you, because you are not someone the company needs.

[@crazydrifter13]

Bold of you to assume he didn't work

[@ChangingHorizons]

@drifter13 not assuming anything. A person will state his achievement if he has honestly worked. Just think, how do you explain your worklife if someone asks you about it? Do you also speak of your perks or leaves or your leisure at work?

[@didactic02]

The most important part of this is the last minute. Invest in yourself and do just what you need to do to get by at these jobs

[@BoobtitsCats]

Heres a secret... employers know you don't give a sh*t if their company fails tomorrow. They also really don't give a sh*t about you either.

[@moltenink9137]

Eployees would give a sh*t if the employer would.

[@SaintsandSushi]

@@moltenink9137nope. Literally unless the company brings you tons of income then you will care for it. How the boss treats you doesn’t change your loyalty to a company that doesn’t belong to you.

[@sk8r4life017]

Poor guy.... how is he gonna afford his mortgage for his million dollar city apartment, lake house , two cars, and trips to premium grocery stores without his half a million dollar tech salary.... inhumane...

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

Yeah - when manufacturing was being gutted in this country, the white collar class didn't bother to notice. What goes around comes around.

[@anm3037]

😂

[@MrC0MPUT3R]

Companies not treating people like human beings? I'm shocked. Shocked!... Well I'm not that shocked...

[@TheJulior1983]

My job laid us off in June 2020, we were devastated by the pandemic, so they cut expenses to the bare minimum to keep us in business and by October 2021, 85-90% of us had a chance to come back to the same position. The companies laying people of now didn’t plan ahead for what might happen long term and now their employees are paying the consequences.

[@hellosammy4105]

Lmao, what are they, your parents planning your future? I swear, most of you people think companies are supposed to be daycares or something.

[@Suitednlooted]

I remember a meeting being set up with me, my manager, and Vice President of our department. I knew something was up, why was I being singled out? Turns out they no longer required my position. They kept me but in a customer service role. Needless to say, I put my 2 weeks a month later. This was my first time experiencing the corporate world and witnessing how replaceable you are.

[@genxx2724]

Was the customer service position a demotion?

[@Ohiostategenerationx]

It's a perfect example of why people need to be getting into trades. They never lay off and if they did the person easily just go into business for themselves.

[@genepires9394]

Trades lay off all the time, it’s just easy to jump to different companies

[@za7529]

LMFAO sponsored by “Workday”

[@richyr5876]

I never stay late at work i work my hours and go work on my self.. outside of work look out for your self always.

[@pimpnamedslickback7780]

And that's why ladies and gentleman you dont owe them a 2 week notice. You dont owe them a 1 yr commitment. You dont owe them anything. They dont respect you. You dont need to respect them.

[@varniitprofessional]

Job termination or layoffs are more painful and traumatizing for me than heartbreaks or death. The latter are inevitable but nobody teaches you how to redirect and refocus and get up again after being out of work or job.

[@SaintsandSushi]

That’s not the job of anyone else but yourself. Resilience and refocusing is an internal trait not something someone outside yourself has to teach you. If you don’t have the ability to refocus after loss than that’s an issue with your ability to cope with change and no one can help you with that except a therapist.

[@Chomper750]

​@@SaintsandSushiLearn how to be empathetic not a sociopath.

[@NuSpirit_]

And that's why I like that if you are laid off here in Europe (or specifically in my country) you have between 1 and 3 months lay off period (depending on how long you worked there - so Paul with 4,5 years would have 2 months) OR they have to sign with you papers you agree with immediate termination. That means you have income for another 1-3 months while you work (and they cannot by law force you to agree with immediate termination if you don't want to).

[@Nhkg17]

In Europe, every redundant employee receives a severance payment of several salaries. So he has a financial buffer to find a new job without hurry. In the US, there are no unions and no proper laws with legal protection for employees.

[@tintifax8531]

Um, no. There is no Europe-wide regulation or even culture of getting severance. Europe isn't a single country after all. However: at-will employment basically doesn't exist, meaning that contractual notice periods must be observed by both parties. And healthcare isn't linked to employment, as a rule. And of course, the US has unions! It's one of the places that pioneered labour unions.

[@John-nr8vu]

Where exactly in Europe?

[@Nhkg17]

@@John-nr8vu I live in Czech R.. Here is two-month salary minimum severance pay. But if there are layoffs in a large company or if a branch of the company closes altogether, it's usually around 6 salaries. In other countries it will be less (usually 2 salaries), but I don't know of a European country where this is not legislated.

[@commentersname8576]

If you can work from home, you can get fired from home. It's no big deal.

[@PD55_]

This is why you need multiple virtual jobs.

[@vikast4537]

underrated comment :p

[@JoelReid]

That closing statement is sad, because it shows he has never experienced a good employer. They are out there.

[@bradleybruvva3021]

I like how the solution at the end is basically just “Realize you’re easily replaceable” instead of pressuring companies to make actual change.

[@hellosammy4105]

Change what? That’s the truth, you are replaceable. What’s the alternative? Pretend you are a precious boy who is soooooo special and we never want to let you go? You basically want all companies to change into your doting mother or something? 🤣.

[@KRAFTOMEEZY]

As a designer, I found it very trash for the bank I worked in to lock me out and deny me of my work. It's been really hard to update my resume and sell myself to other jobs. Not a single person has reached out to me and after 3 months I still don't know what the hell I was fired for.

[@Fromtheforgottengardens]

Hey! What happened? Did you got new job

[@KRAFTOMEEZY]

@@Fromtheforgottengardens No, unfortunately, I had to take up a temp job making a 3rd of my previous pay.

[@Fromtheforgottengardens]

@@KRAFTOMEEZY are you a UI/UX or graphic designer?

[@KRAFTOMEEZY]

@@Fromtheforgottengardens Yes I am!

[@SwiftySanders]

Wait so you could literally wake up and your have no job one day out of nowhere?... That's incredible! 🥺I don't think these companies are ready for that fire.

[@abyszero8620]

That's been standard practice for decades now. I'm not defending it, but they are more than prepared. Workers don't have enough leverage for companies to actually care.

[@saurabhpatil5946]

Keep your loyalty towards your family and friends… Not your workplace.

[@SuperGGnoRE]

It's at-will employment. Both the corporation and the individual have the right to walk away at any time, no questions asked. This means whoever has more leverage is in control. And how much leverage you have (how valuable you are to the company) is up to you. Remember, always strive to be more valuable to the company than the company is to you.

[@tester_max]

there will always be two camps, those for virtual lay-offs and those who are against it) I would prefer virtual. It just makes it easier. The problem with this way of management is that an employee doesn't know when to expect "The Email" from the Employer and it can really be a difficult time for an employee. Just like they said mostly they do it before weekends and holidays so there is less emotional backlash coming from those let go. In my opinion there should be huge change in employee evaluation system so that an email about company wanting to part ways with a certain individual wasn't a surprise and could be explained with numbers. I am sure they'll soon find the way to use AI for this ))) And again people will be complaining that the employer is inhumane in ways they use to deal with this kind of problems)) The comment is way longer than I was intending to make it. Sorry for that

[@jalabi99]

_Just like they said mostly they do it before weekends and holidays so there is less emotional backlash coming from those let go._ The worst feeling in the world is being let go right before a holiday. That's pretty wicked on their part to do that to anyone.

[@jalabi99]

At-will employment is the crux of the issue. It makes no sense to me that a company would expect me to give them two weeks' notice when I want to leave but they see no need to give me two weeks' notice when they want me to leave.

[@timnicholls19]

Not only should virtual lay-offs be considered a company red flag and send the company into damage control. But also is a sign of bad management in general, it just shows how detached management gave become as to me it's the modern day equivalent of silent treatment in primary school

[@SaintsandSushi]

If you are a virtual employee then you should expect to be fired virtually. Imagine asking a virtual worker to travel all the way to the office just to fire them. That would be a waste of time and resources.

[@timnicholls19]

@Miriam Reyes yeah but I'm seeing via text and emails that's a no go cowards way of doing it. Or worse there's the Elon musk way just don't tell someone and disconnect there connection. All these to me would be the equivalent of turning up to a normal job and you're locker content just sitting at the front door. Not saying much about were I work most our work is off-line but corporate makes you log in to see the important stuff for a worker like roster payslips etc etc but about 3 months ago something changed and anyone that's quit can't access there stuff within a hour no matter how long you given them notice for. Then department managers crack it because staff aren't showing up for shifts. Now what's compressing this issue is also anyone changing on this system say full time to casual is also getting this deal all because of faceless weak management in corporate. Also my parents own a pc repair company they have 2 people that work remotely they would be also classed as virtual by any other tech company. The rents will travel 2000km to have meetings with one of them so if a small company can do it there no reason a multi billion dollar company can't

[@SaintsandSushi]

@@timnicholls19 except for emails I agree the other ways mentioned are horrible ways of firing employees. Emails have been used even before remote work was famous as a way to fire employees. Emails are often the preferred method used to send official employment offers so I don’t see why it shouldn’t be used for firing people. Asking a supervisor to spend hours firing people on person is not cost efficient so why would they spend resources on it when an email will suffice.

[@zpzp96]

If you prefer to work remotely, I think remote layoffs should be something to be expected as well.

[@hollyisalwayshopeful2688]

I wouldn’t expect my work to require me to come to the office just to tell me I’m fired! I would expect a virtual meeting, an email is cowardly and cold!

[@chensun6156]

I'm amazed how the ex-Googler ends the final statement with a Me First-- not a team player. Layoffs occur constantly in other sectors, and these ex-employees (Google's average pay is nearly $300,000 a year), should be thankful for the high pay and excellent work experience they had. If he had worked four years, he could have saved half a million dollars, a far greater retirement fund than most in other sectors, who work 30 years.

[@SaintsandSushi]

LMAO! There is no such thing as a team player in a company. Either you provide a skill necessary to the company or you don’t. And no one should be “thankful” for getting payed based on their experience and skills. Job rates and perks are earned and not to be seen as something you need to beg for. I can tell you still believe that sucking up to your company will keep you employed 😂 Good luck with that.